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EDUCATION REPORT: Boeing Awards Grant for STEAM Initiatives to Brevard Schools Foundation

By  //  February 16, 2018

grant enables Brevard Public Schools to partner with Northwestern University

Ingrid Piedrahita, Boeing community investor, speaks to the crowd at the ABC Awards on January 24 after Boeing was recognized for contributions exceeding $1 million to Brevard County Schools.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Schools Foundation is the recipient of a specialized grant from The Boeing Company that will fund “FUSEing K-12 STEAM for Tomorrow’s Innovators,” a project that emphasizes science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics academic integration along with 21st century skills through the creation of FUSE studios.

This grant enables Brevard Public Schools to partner with Northwestern University to bring FUSE to students in targeted areas of North Brevard County.

The FUSE Studio Learning Environments appeal to the interests of all young people, especially those youths who are not interested in or do not think of themselves as “good at” math and science in school.

In the FUSE Studio, students will choose challenges to work on based on what appeals to their own interests. As they level up through the challenge sequence, they learn new STEAM-based practices and develop critical skills such as adaptive problem solving, creativity, and persistence.

The A in STEAM is engaged through the design process which brings each youth’s ideas and aesthetics to the foreground. Boeing employees will play a key role to this project by engaging in enrichment activities with students during FUSE Studios K-12 STEAM challenges.

In the FUSE Studio, students will choose challenges to work on based on what appeals to their own interests. As they level up through the challenge sequence, they learn new STEAM-based practices and develop critical skills such as adaptive problem solving, creativity, and persistence.

“Boeing is committed to inspiring the next generation of dreamers and doers through investments that support STEM learning opportunities, help students develop critical 21st century skills and promote career readiness,” said Ingrid Piedrahita, Boeing community investor.

“We can’t wait to see area students work together to creatively tackle the challenges and projects presented by FUSE STEAM Labs.”

“We are excited to partner with Boeing on this STEAM project,” said Janice Kershaw, President of Brevard Schools Foundation.

“The schools are constantly looking for ways to inspire and engage students and FUSE studios will allow them to do that in ways that make connections to the real world.”

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FUSE Studios are currently located in five states. Brevard County is home to the only FUSE studio schools in the State of Florida.

The schools who have implemented this program thus far have reported several measurable gains among the students and teachers who have participated in the STEAM challenges.

This project focuses on providing a transformative high-interest, innovative, and engaging education opportunity for development of STEAM competencies to grow a diverse workforce talent pipeline and prepare future –ready problem solvers.

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